The telephone line
If you are anything like me, your prayer life could use a good tune up! Between the demands of our jobs, family life and church, sometimes it can feel like spending time with God gets pushed to the bottom of our to-do list. In the book of Matthew, it reads--
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Jesus taught his disciples that WHEN we put our relationship with God first, all other things we desire will be given to us. That's because if we are in sync with God through prayer and aligning our hearts to the heart of God, what we desire will become all those good things that He already has planned for us. The desires of our hearts can become transformed to heavenly, kingdom desires--instead of fleshly, earthly desires. One of those desires we have when we are in Christ, is the desire to be in relationship with Him.
Recently, I realized that with a change in my job role, I was spending less and less time in prayer because I was striving in my own strength to keep my chin above water--working constantly "to get ahead". I kept finding myself feeling exhausted, empty, and feeling like a hamster on a wheel. And all of those fruits of the spirit that I was finally getting accustomed to experiencing-- like peace, joy, patience and kindness and self control, were getting harder and harder to maintain. I was reading my bible daily, but I was feeling like God was nowhere to be found. He was silent! I desired to write something encouraging on our social media page and website-- but if I am being honest, I didn't have any encouragement to give!
I felt completely blocked, spiritually. I wasn't hearing from God. As I was sitting quietly one day, reflecting over why God was giving me the silent treatment, I felt this overwhelming urge to pray and talk with him in a deep and soul bearing way. The Holy Spirit gently nudged me...
I needed to repent. I confessed to God that I had neglected Him and my priorities had shifted to put work ahead of my relationship with the Creator of everything I was working for! I opened up completely and asked my loving and heavenly Father to forgive me and to fill me once again with the desires of His heart.
A short while later, as I was talking with Him on my morning drive to work, I was pouring out my heart and praising Him for all that I know to be true about Him. I was standing on His word that He is a promise keeper an ally and a trustworthy friend. I was believing that although my current circumstances didn't feel good at the moment, God is always good and faithful to prosper me and not to harm me. I already had tears in my eyes because I was baring my soul to Him that morning and as I said "Amen" I turned the volume dial of my radio up. As soon as my mind registered the song playing--I burst out in tears of joy because I just knew to my core that He had played that song just for me. How did I know, you wonder? I knew because that song no longer plays on KSBJ very often and that song specifically tied to the prayers I had just prayed in such a personal way, known only to me.
I have always felt that God speaks to me through my devotionals and through songs. What was so beautiful about this experience is that I really felt like God and I were finally reconnected. That long distance telephone line, if you will, was working again. I felt like God had accepted my apology for getting my priorities out of line and He was confirming that I was already forgiven and He had gathered me closer to Him once more. Since then, I have had a few more confirmations in my reading and in messages from other places that God has drawn nearer to me because I have once again, drawn nearer to Him.
If you find yourself wanting to reconnect with God through prayer, all I can say is to just start talking to Him right now. He is at the door, but he is waiting for you to knock. Just as Paul writes in Philippians,
"The Lord is near. Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. (4:5-7)
God is listening. He is just waiting for you to speak to Him. God bless you my sisters!